Preconco workers down tools over unresolved issues

Unionised workers at Preconco Limited staged a walkout on Tuesday morning, halting operations at the concrete fabricator, amid mounting frustration over stalled wage negotiations and other issues.

The Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU), which represents the employees, confirmed that the strike action stemmed from what it describes as a breakdown in negotiations and unmet promises by the company’s management. It followed similar action in late March.

Speaking at the Lears Road, Jackmans site, BWU Deputy General Secretary Dwaine Paul said that workers were disheartened by the lack of progress, despite previous commitments that their issues would be addressed urgently.

“The workers have withdrawn their services because a number of promises made towards resolving the disputes here at Preconco have not advanced in the way that they would like or have not reached a conclusion,” Paul told reporters.

He noted that a major sticking point remains the issue of wages and salaries.

“One of the principal things the guys are really fed up with is they in good faith returned to work the last time they stopped work, under the condition that their matters would have been treated as matters of urgency,” he explained. “However, while the officials have worked towards this, the workers strongly believe that the company in terms of its actions – whether it relates to fully resolving matters of health and safety, resolving matters of wages and salaries, resolving matters of equity and pay – has been lagging in terms of their response, and they do not believe that they should be required to provide services when their conditions remain outstanding and remain outstanding for as long as they have.”

Previous agreements on health and safety issues were made between the union and the company, as recently as March, which were aimed at improving terms and conditions for the company’s workforce.

Paul said: “We deem this situation to be quite unfortunate because given the amount of time that has been invested and the amount of years that has been invested in looking at these matters, [one would expect] that the workers by now would have been in a position to see some much-needed improvements, especially as it relates to the matters of terms and conditions, and that specifically speaks to the matter of pay.”

The BWU was summoned later in the day to a meeting with the Chief Labour Officer to discuss the situation and chart a path forward.

No response from the management of Preconco was forthcoming.

(SB)